Navigating the college application and acceptance process can be daunting for high school seniors and their parents, not to mention understanding financial aid options, locating scholarship information, and completing everyone’s favorite, the FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid – required paperwork for all prospective college students and their families.

Fortunately, Great Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc., (GRASP) advisors like Paula Buckley are knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and eager to help. A retired Marine Corps officer, Paula has been mentoring students for 16 years and also serves as director of outreach and public affairs for the Richmond-based nonprofit.

With so much information to convey, Paula says she’s learned to watch for signs that she’s overshared. “I used to give them a lot of detail and then…wait a minute, their eyes are glazing over…they’re falling asleep in their chairs! We try to talk more in generalities and help them understand the basics first.”

According to Paula, the most basic thing to know is that meeting with a GRASP advisor is free for students fortunate enough to attend a GRASP partner school. GRASP advisors work closely with a school’s guidance counselor and currently serve 114 high schools located in 56 school divisions across Virginia.

Founded in 1983, the GRASP acronym originally stood for Greater Richmond Area Scholarship Program, but as their service area expanded into the Central Blue Ridge and other parts of Virginia, the name evolved.

GRASP advisors – 78 in all – are committed to helping students make their higher education goals a reality. Their overall purpose is to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity for education after high school, regardless of their financial or social circumstances, or whether they are interested in learning a trade, attending a community college, or seeking a four-year degree program.

GRASP programs and scholarships help more than 8,000 students each year thanks to generous contributions from foundations, businesses, and individuals, and in collaboration with numerous community partners. During the 2023-24 school year alone, GRASP awarded close to $400,000 in scholarship money to high school seniors heading for community college or four-year degree programs.

Paula says GRASP first connected with TowneBank when she met Alec Schleicher, vice president and commercial banker, volunteering at her church. They began chatting while serving a meal to the homeless. “I asked where he worked, and he said TowneBank. I had heard of Towne and knew they were very community minded. I already knew they had been very involved with Access College Foundation (GRASP’s equivalent in Hampton Roads). Towne understands the value of our mission and how we help our students have a bright future through access to college and other educational paths.”

Brenda Jackson, GRASP advisor, interacts with students at a community education fair. 

Brenda Jackson, GRASP advisor, interacts with students at a community education fair.In addition to the advising program, GRASP launched a speaker’s bureau in 2022 that connects schools and community groups with experts on topics like college preparation for middle school students, trends in college admission, financial aid, a FAFSA walkthrough, admissions in a test-optional world, and what to expect from award letters.

Nearly 53% of GRASP students are aspiring first-generation college students, Paula notes. “We of course help any student who comes to see us, but we find it especially gratifying to help students who are the first generation in their family to go to college. Nobody in that family may know what the process is, and they may not even realize all of the different options available to them.”

“Still, the hardest part for us is just having people know that we exist and are here to help,” says Paula in closing. “Financial aid is not very exciting, but what we do is really important. A new group of seniors needs this information and our help in a relatively short period of time each year. I love being an advisor. I put my heart and soul into helping these students and their families.”

To learn more about GRASP, visit GRASP4VA.org.